Celebrate Summer with Free Live Music

Madison comes alive each summer with a vibrant array of free outdoor concerts that transform the city and surrounding area into a musical haven. One of the most iconic events is the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra’s Concerts on the Square, held on Wednesday evenings on the Capitol lawn. This series, often dubbed “The Biggest Picnic of Summer,” attracts thousands who gather with blankets and picnics to enjoy classical and pops music under the stars.

For a midday musical break, Lunch Time LIVE! offers free performances every Tuesday from June through August on the King Street walkway of the Capitol Square. Attendees can enjoy live music while grabbing lunch from nearby downtown eateries.

Beyond the Capitol, Madison's lakeside venues host a variety of free concerts. The Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota features live music throughout the summer, providing a laid-back atmosphere with iconic sunburst chairs and stunning lake views . Similarly, the Monona Terrace rooftop hosts Concerts on the Rooftop on Thursdays and Dane Dances! on Fridays, offering diverse musical genres and panoramic views of Lake Monona and the Capitol.

These free concert series not only showcase local and regional talent but also foster a strong sense of community, making Madison's summer nights truly special. Here’s a guide to your free summer listening options:

5/1-10/26 Concerts at The Mill - Paoli/The Mill (multiple concerts weekly)
5/7-5/28 Free Concerts in Olin Pavilion - Madison/Olin-Turville Park (Wednesdays)
5/7-9/24 Biergarten at the Beach - Monona/Schluter Park (various Wednesdays)
5/15-8/23 Music on the Terrace - Madison/Memorial Union Terrace (multiple shows per week)
5/16 - 8/28 Summer Series - DeForest / Fireman’s Park  Fireman’s Park (movies & music)
5/17-8/2 Summer Concert Series - Madison/The Boneyard (1018 Walsh Rd.)
5/23-9/12 Bluegrass Fridays - Madison/Edgewater Hotel (Fridays on Grand Plaza)
5/25 BobFest 2025 - Spring Green/General Store (137 S Albany St.)
6/3-6/17 June Tunes - Sauk City/Meyer Oak Grove Market
6/3-8/26 Lunch Time LIVE! - Madison/State Capitol (King St. Walkway on Tuesdays)
6//5-7/24 Concerts on the Rooftop - Madison/Monona Terrace (Thursdays)
6/8-8/17 Summer Concerts - UW Campus/Allen Centennial Gardens (1st & 3rd Sundays)
6/9-7/28 NewBridge Summer Concerts - Madison/Warner Park (Mondays)
6/10-8/22 Concerts in the Park - Sun Prairie/Wetmore Park (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)
6/10-7/29 Summer Concerts - DeForest/various locations (Tuesdays)
6/11-8/27 Concerts in The Park - Edgerton/Central Park
6/17-7/29 Live from the Park - Waunakee/Village Park Gazebo (Tuesdays)
6/19-8/14 Capitol City Band - Madison/Rennebohm Park (Thursdays)
6/19-8/21 Concerts in the Park - Verona/Century School Park (Thursdays)
6/21 Make Music Madison - Madison/citywide (one Saturday only)
6/24-8/12 Olbrich After Hours - Madison/Olbrich Botanical Gardens (Tuesdays)
6/25-7/30 Concerts on the Square - Madison/Capitol Square (Wednesdays)
7/5-8/30 Music on the Mound - Blue Mounds State Park (Saturdays)
7/8-7/29 Summer Concerts - Monona/Winnequah Park (Tuesdays)
7/9-8/13 Wednesday Night Live - Mt. Horeb/Grundahl Park (Wednesdays)
7/11-8/1 Summer Nights at Segoe - Madison/Segoe Park (Fridays)
8/1-8/29 Dane Dances! - Madison/Monona Terrace (Fridays)
8/6-9/3 Jazz at Five - Madison/State Capitol (S Hamilton St. walkway on Wednesdays)

Want to add your series to the calendar? Email mark@magic98.com

by Mark Van Allen

American Family Children's Hospital Radiothon 2025

Together we raised $493,909.51 for the UW Health Kids at the American Family Children’s Hospital. Thank you to all of our wonderful donors and sponsors for making this all happen for our community.

You are still able to donate through Sunday, May 11th. The money you donate will save lives.

Here are just some of the ways donations have been used in past years:

· Funded a Child Life Specialist position in the Emergency Department to help patients and their families cope with fear, pain, and anxiety.

· Provided supplies for the Positive Image Center which offers wigs, hats, and salon services to patients free of charge.

· Provided gas cards and transportation resources for families who need help getting to and from the hospital, including those who need treatments several times each week.

· Supported Tyler’s Place sibling care, so parents can stay with their hospitalized child while the siblings are taken care of in a nurturing and therapeutic environment.

· Provided dinners for thousands of moms, dads, and patient visitors.

How can you become a Champion for Kids?

· You become a champion by donating just $15 a month!

Share this page with your friends! Share on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram —ALL OVER! Use the Hashtag #Champion4Kids!

Donations to the American Family Children’s Hospital and UW Health are managed by the University of Wisconsin Foundation, the official fundraising and gift-receiving organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW Health. The UW Foundation is a publicly supported charitable organization under sections 501(c)(3), 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(iv) of the IRS Code. A gift is fully tax-deductible unless the donor receives goods and/or services in exchange for her or his contribution or as long as the value of any goods or services received qualifies as ‘low-cost articles’ under section 513(h)(2).

 

Special thank you to our sponsors:

by kiernan

Fresh Finds, Friendly Faces Await at Farmers' Market

Strolling through the farmers market is like a treasure hunt, where every stand bursts with colorful fruits, quirky veggies, and happy surprises. You get to chat with local farmers, snack on samples, and fill your bag with fresh goodness that’s way too cool for the grocery store. The greater Madison area is bursting with markets. Discover one near you!

MONDAYS
Southside Farmers’ Market - Madison/Novation Center

TUESDAYS

DeForest Farmers’ Market - DeForest/Fireman’s Plaza Park
Eastside Farmers’ Market - Madison/McPike Park
Southside Farmers’ Market - Madison/Labor Temple

WEDNESDAYS

Capitol View Farmers’ Market - Madison/5901 Sharpsburg Dr
Hilldale Farmers’ Market - Madison/Hilldale Mall
Main Street Monroe Farmers’ Market - Monroe/Downtown Square
Verona Downtown Farmers’ Market - Verona/Hometown Junction Park
Waunakee Farmers’ Market - Waunakee/Reeve Park

THURSDAYS

Fitchburg Farmers’ Market - Fitchburg/5511 E Cheryl Pkwy (Agora Pavillion)
Greenway Station Farmers’ Market - Middleton/Greenway Station
Mt. Horeb Farmers’ Market - Mt. Horeb/300 block E Main St

FRIDAYS

Southside Farmers’ Market - Madison/Villager Mall

SATURDAYS

Downtown Beloit Farmers’ Market - Beloit/557 E Grand St
Dane County Farmers’ Market - Madison/Capitol Square
Hilldale Farmers’ Market - Madison/Hilldale Mall
Janesville Farmers’ Market - Janesville/downtown Town Square
Main Street Monroe Farmers’ Market - Monroe/Downtown Square
Meyer Oak Grove Market - Sauk City/Meyer Oak Grove Park
Stoughton Community Farmers’ Market - Stoughton/downtown (on Forrest St)
Sun Prairie Farmers’ Market - Sun Prairie/downtown
Westside Community Market - Madison/505 S Rosa Rd

SUNDAYS

Monona Farmers’ Market - Monona/Ahuska Park
Monroe Street Farmers’ Market - Madison/Edgewood High School
Northside Farmers’ Market - Madison/Northside Town Center (on Sherman Ave)
Southside Farmers’ Market - Madison/Labor Temple

by Mark Van Allen

Kibble For A Cause 2025

Calling ALL pet lovers!!

We will be broadcasting LIVE from Barks on Bourbon (1843 Bourbon Rd, Cross Plains, WI 53528) in Cross Plains on Thursday, April 10th from 6AM-7PM with our sister stations 94.1 JJO, The Resistance 106.7 and Q106! Get ready for a tail-wagging good time as we come together to make a difference for our furry friends in need by collecting food, supplies and cash donations for local pet rescues and non profits!

Supplies needed: 
  • Towels, wash cloths, hand towels, garbage bags
  • Flat sheets, pillowcases, and blankets (but not comforters or bed pillows)
  • Rugs smaller than 4′ x 6′
  • Opened or unopened bags of pet food and treats
  • Cat toys, Dog toys and kongs
  • Leashes, collars, and harnesses
  • Wet kitten food
  • Cat litter, cat tunnels, scratching posts, pet safe heating pads
  • Training pads
  • Dog or cat beds
  • Small animal nursing bottles
  • Sensitive skin laundry detergent
  • Amazon gift cards
  • Flea & tick treatment

If you cannot make it to Barks on Bourbon feel free to stop by any of our Donation Drop-off Locations:

Mid-West Family Madison
730 Rayovac Drive
Madison, WI 53711

Pet Supplies Plus Fitchburg
2928 Hardrock Rd
Fitchburg, WI

Pet Supplies Plus Monona
2171 W. Broadway
Monona, WI

or Venmo @MWFMadison

Your donations will help:

Special thanks to our sponsors:

by kiernan

Women's History Month

Magic 98 Featured|NewsTicker

March is Women’s History Month, and this year, we’re embracing the theme “Take Action.”

Every weekday at 7:30, 12:30, and 5:30, you’ll hear about organizations that are making a difference. We’ll learn about what they do and why they do it with the idea that if it so moves you, you will become a part of the change. (We’ll post them every day right here too if you miss one.)

Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” So let’s populate the heck out of every single place by becoming history-makers and barrier-breakers in our own right.

It’s no coincidence that Women’s History Month is in MARCH…March on!

by Magic 98

Win Katy Perry Tickets

From singing gospel hymns as a kid in the church choir, her prayers of headlining sold out arenas were answered. Katy Perry and The Lifetimes Tour are coming to Chicago's United Center on May 12 - and Magic 98 has reserved you a pair of tickets.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10am but if you're a member you could be our guest. LOG IN to your account to win. Not a member? REGISTER HERE to become one.

by Mark Van Allen

Koats for Kids 2024

Help us collect 5,000 kids coats!
We need your help!

Please consider donating new and used coats, or making a financial contribution to help keep kids in Dane County warm this winter.

The campaign kicks off Monday, Sept. 9, from 5 a.m.–6:30 p.m., with a “Pack the Truck” event at Klinke Cleaners, 4512 Monona Drive, Madison. The Koats for Kids collection van will be parked curbside to accept donations of new and gently worn children’s-sized winter outerwear and accessories.

The winter coat collection continues through Saturday, Oct. 5, and donations may be dropped off at any area Klinke Cleaners. Items will be cleaned for free by the staff at Klinke Cleaners, and donations will be distributed by BGCDC.

Requests for children’s sized winter coats continue to outpace the number of kids coats donated, so we’ve set a goal of 5000 kids’ coats to meet projected needs in 2024.

Don’t have a winter coat to give? Please consider making a financial donation here, or check out the KOATS FOR KIDS Amazon Wish List for a selection of kids’ winter coats and accessories available for purchase. Your donation will benefit children right here, where we live.

All gently used winter coats and accessories will be cleaned FOR FREE by Klinke Cleaners, and given to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County for distribution.

This year’s distribution will be held Friday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Allied Family Center, 4619 Jenewein Road, Fitchburg;
  • Erica & Anthony Fleming Boys & Girls Club, 2001 Taft St., Madison; and
  • McKenzie Family Boys & Girls Club, 232 Windsor St., Sun Prairie.

by kiernan

Children's Theater of Madison 2024-25 Preseason Sale

Children's Theater of Madison 2024-25 Preseason Sale

Save Up To 35% Through October 2!

You can choose 35% OFF with our 2+ SHOW BIG DEAL SUBSCRIPTION or Save 25% on any single show!

Announcing Children's Theater of Madison 2024-25 Season – a line-up that really has Something to Say:

Right now, SAVE UP TO 35% on all this year's shows:

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Musical
  • The Annual Holiday Classic: A Christmas Carol
  • The enchanting Rodger's & Hammerstein's Cinderella
  • Elephant & Piggie's "We are In a Show"
  • For our teen audience: The Trials
  • And NEW for the very young, The Magical Forest!

Get tickets now at the BEST SAVINGS ALL YEAR LONG!

by kiernan